Spiralpaw rolled beneath his mentor and bit his back leg hard. Thornpad screeched in fury and spun around to face Spiralpaw. The apprentice just laughed and jumped over his unhappy mentor. Thornpad had been beating him less and less. He was about nine moons, an old apprentice – a paw. But he'd been here for too long. Eight moons to be exact, and about seven since Mallowspot had died. Once Thornpad tired of the new game – Being beat by his own apprentice – they went back to camp where he grudgingly admitted that Spiralpaw was ready to be a warrior.
Feeling proud of himself, he walked through the hole and into the large cave behind it. Softmallow, who had been allowed to name herself, was with Severedtail digging the tunnel that would eventually lead them to an easier life. They had already finished one, leading barely out of camp, and were working on their second, leading to the river for easy hunting and a drink without Longstar catching them.
Their life with the tunnels was easier, and the one that led out of camp was one they hoped would lead them to escape one day.
"Cats! Join me under Long branch!" Longstar groaned. The four warriors and two apprentices left the den to join Longstar for his warrior "ceremony." Though Longstar had lost the slightest bit of her edge after the incident in the cave, she would no doubt refuse him a proper ceremony.
Autumnpaw accompanied him on one side with Softmallow on the other. The love of his life licked him encouragingly. "It'll be okay," she reassured him, but the scar on her side that represented her own warrior ceremony seemed to stick out farther.
"Autumnpaw!" Longstar yowled unpleasantly. Spiralpaw flicked his tail hopefully to Autumnpaw as his brother stepped forward. Longstar studied the handsome ginger tom for a long moment, then smashed her hand into his side. "Choose a name for yourself!" She screamed at him. Autumnpaw flattened his ears.
"I am Autumnsecret," he told Longstar.
Her eyes widened with utmost fury and realization. The brothers had been expecting this, but had agreed that to honor Secretpaw's memory Autumnpaw would become Autumnsecret. Spiralpaw was sure that he would get a worse beating when Longstar heard his name.
There was a small crack as she smashed her paw down on Autumnsecret's. He stared up at her defiantly and she turned back to the group.
"Stupidpaw!" she cried out, abusing Thornpad's nickname for Spiralpaw.
Longstar dug ten claws into his back, causing him to flinch. "CHOOSE A NAME FOR YOURSELF!" She screamed louder than before. Autumnsecret's surprise name had clearly infuriated her. Spiralpaw took a deep breath.
"I am Spiralpath," he whispered. She dug her claws deeper into his back.
"Speak louder," she commanded.
"I AM SPIRALPATH!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. Longstar screamed so loudly that Spiralpath screamed too. She dug her claws deeper and deeper until blood flowed freely from each small hole. Then she unhooked them and began beating him continuously, holding back none.
When she had finally finished with him she stood back. "From this day forward these apprentices will be known as Stupidpath and Autumnfailure!" She announced to the Clan. Spiralpath barely heard her. Things were becoming hazy and his body felt blown and battered.
He felt strong teeth grab his scruff and could see enough to know that Softmallow was gripping his scruff. He saw Longstar lash out, and heard a whimper from Softmallow. Looking over, he knew that the same thing had happened to Severedtail as he attempted to help Autumnsecret.
Then everything went black.
When he opened his eyes he was still in the clearing, and he took a moment to savor the cool breeze that passed over him. He was still slightly sore, but he didn't feel as bad when he scented the familiar scent next to him. "Softmallow," he whispered quietly.
"Shh! You'll alert Longstar," she whispered back. Slowly, with Severedtail beside her, dragging Autumnsecret, she pulled him back to the cave.
Now that they were all awake, Severedtail and Spiralpath, who convinced Softmallow that he was well enough to go, did the weekly rounds. First Severedtail gathered two fish, a water vole, and a small mouse from the prey pile and brought them to the cave. They did not each much, needing to stay skinny in order to fit through their kit hole, but the prey would last them a week. Next Softmallow collected moss for the nests, then gave a bit to Autumnsecret, now roused, to take through the tunnel and collect water.
Once again, Spiralpath felt a stab of anger at the fact that despite receiving their warrior names, they could not sleep in the warriors den. Not that he was positive he wanted to. Inside they would never be RiverClan. He would always be ShadowClan at heart, just as Softmallow would always be ThunderClan, but it still upset him.
Once the rounds were made Spiralpath invited Softmallow to the tunnel leading into the forest. They went about half way in.
"Softmallow?" he asked. She stared at him questioningly.
"I've been waiting for the right time…" he started. Now her eyes widened knowingly and he felt the heat coming from her ears. He smiled.
"Will you be my mate?" he asked.
"YES!" she squealed. Then she looked down. "I mean, yeah, sure."
He leaped into the air and licked her ear lovingly. They walked back to the cave together.
A week later
Longstar smiled smugly. "Good, thank you Oakleaf, this information will be very useful," she whispered. He bowed his head to her and went back to his den. Longstar stared across the clearing at the plump Softmallow. More kits would be nice. They could be used as a threat and would make the Clan stronger. Suddenly realizing that she needed more warriors, her brow furrowed. There were only two apprentices and no kits.
She took off out of the den. "Thornpad! Oakleaf! Stormfeather! Shadowface, and… Spiralpath!" she yelled, laughing cruelly to herself. This was going to be fun, tormenting him.
Spiralpath POV
Spiralpath listened hopelessly to his mission, not ever made for him. "Longstar, you can't do this! It's wrong! I may have not been taught the warrior code, but I know it's wrong!"
Longstar smiled cruelly. "That's too bad Spiralpath," she said, circling him. "Because I need more kits now, and it would be a shame if I had to slit your mate's belly to get them, wouldn't it?" she said pleasantly.
Spiralpath's eyes widened in horror and he backed off. "Yes Longstar," he whispered, barely audible.
"Speak up. WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
"Yes Longstar," he said, slightly louder.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" She screamed, swiping and unsheathed claw down his back. He cringed.
"YES LONGSTAR," he said, louder this time. She smiled and randomly bit down on his tail. He jumped and backed away. The other warriors laughed.
Running with the other warriors to ShadowClan felt strange. Like he was running home. He wished desperately that he was. He and his friends were beginning to get restless, their escape plan was failing.
They finally arrived in the camp. Two warriors crept forward and knocked both guards out. He realized with a pang was the one his mother had called Snarltooth, one of the cats that had tried to save him.
Everything he was doing felt morally wrong. He wanted to turn tail and run home, but he could not let his mate get killed. They had dug a safe hole in the tunnel that led to the forest, and she was currently resting there, preparing for her kitting. More than ever before he missed Secretpaw, who the warriors had named Secretsoul the medicine cat before he died.
He snapped back to reality and found himself in the nursery. A silver queen was lying quietly in her nest. She had three beautiful kits nursing her – a silver and white tabby she-cat who looked like a cross between her mother and a white tiger, a white and black tabby tom who looked exactly like a white tiger, and a black tom with silvery white spots.
Thornpad stepped forward and poked one lightly with its claw. It squeaked and burrowed underneath his mother. The silver queen stirred and looked up at them with scared eyes.
"Hello gorgeous," Thornpad whispered. Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to scream. Thornpad shook his head and she snapped it shut.
"Yell and we kill you and the kits," he threatened. Her eyes widened further. Spiralpath bowed his head, ashamed to be a part of this group.
Thornpad poked the second kit harder, drawing blood. The kit writhed and squealed. Thornpad laughed. "He's weak," the warrior whispered, then he turned back to the mother. "What are their names?" he asked, taunting her.
"The silver tabby is Fawnkit, the spotted silver tom is Meadowkit, and the white tabby is Seakit," she whispered shakily. Spiralpath promised himself he'd remember the names if they kidnapped these innocent kits.
Thornpad nodded. "What stupid names," he muttered under his breath. Their mother narrowed her eyes at him. She opened her mouth once again to scream. Thornpad shook his head but it was too late. She yowled ferociously. Warriors outside stirred.
Thornpad turned. "Shadowface, go threaten them with the queen's life. Stormfeather, Oakleaf, kill the queen. Stupidpath, help me carry the kit," he commanded. Shadowface shot out the entrance while Thornpad began handing Spiralpath kits. He took them unwillingly.
"Come on Thornpad, can't we have a little fun with the queen?" Oakleaf begged. Thornpad laughed.
"Well of course! Do whatever you want to her," he replied menacingly. The queen looked horrified and a tear fell from her eyes as a painstaking cry of "Silverfawn!" echoed outside.
The last thing Spiralpath saw as he left the nursery holding Seakit and Fawnkit was Oakleaf holding the queen down as Stormfeather raked his claws down her face. "Let him!" he screamed as she let out a wail.
While Spiralpath snuck out of the camp he saw a black striped tabby sitting next to his mother. "Don't worry Whitetiger," she whispered. "I'm sure she'll be fine, Silverfawn's very strong."
Thornpad appeared behind him with Meadowkit in his mouth. He dropped the kit and waited until the yowls coming from inside the nursery ceased and a final scream of pain echoed, followed by laughter. Soon Stormfeather and Shadowface with Oakleaf appeared. The five of them set off to WindClan territory. A single tear fell from Spiralpath's eye.